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Finnish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature | | Finnish term or phrase: rotisko | "Olipahan vain yksi rotisko eteisen nurkassa johon kaikki vastasivat."
Describing an old rotary dial phone. I know the dictionary definition of rotisko, but everything I can think of to use in the translation is an adjectival phrase, and I'd really like to have a cleaner solution--a single noun if possible. Any thoughts? |
| | | We only had this rotary junk in the corridor... | Explanation:
or maybe, we only had one of these ancient rotary phones ...
Or, maybe you don't need to say rotary... maybe just an ancient contraption?
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Note added at 8 hrs (2011-09-18 09:40:42 GMT)
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On reflection, I think "contraption" is the right word to use, conveying the feel of "rotisko".
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Note added at 1 day6 hrs (2011-09-19 07:35:00 GMT)
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Owen, I understand where you're coming from, and hunk of junk rhymes nicely. Here in the UK though HUNK really has the meaning of a large piece of bread or cheese or male with a good physique... I suppose your choice really depends on the overall use of expressions in the text you are translating. |
| Selected response from:
 Hannele Marttila
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:37
| Grading comment Thanks again, Hannele. Although I didn't use your exact suggestion, yours was ultimately the most helpful.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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9 mins confidence:  
8 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +1 We only had this rotary junk in the corridor...
Explanation:
or maybe, we only had one of these ancient rotary phones ...
Or, maybe you don't need to say rotary... maybe just an ancient contraption?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2011-09-18 09:40:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
On reflection, I think "contraption" is the right word to use, conveying the feel of "rotisko".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day6 hrs (2011-09-19 07:35:00 GMT)
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Owen, I understand where you're coming from, and hunk of junk rhymes nicely. Here in the UK though HUNK really has the meaning of a large piece of bread or cheese or male with a good physique... I suppose your choice really depends on the overall use of expressions in the text you are translating.
| Hannele Marttila
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:37
Works in field
Native speaker of:  Finnish, English
PRO pts in category: 7
|
| | Grading comment | Thanks again, Hannele. Although I didn't use your exact suggestion, yours was ultimately the most helpful. |
| Notes to answerer
Asker: Contraption is a good possibility (it was one of the first things I though of myself). I've been trying to use it less lately in my work though--it's started to lose any flavor it once had for me. It's a little amazing (odd?) how many words Finnish has that basically mean contraption. I guess that goes for a lot of concepts. In my own English dialect we do use contraption, but it has some very specific connotations for me, and at least at first didn't feel like a very good fit here. Thinking about your suggestions just now did give me another idea that may be a perfect fit: hunk of junk.
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The translation workplace 
